Daniel Sheridan

As the world watched on, Felix Baumgartner jumped from 128,000 ft towards mass celebrations. This feat had never been successful before; new world records and a hero had been created in the process. No one can even contemplate what must have gone through his head at such unimaginable heights, with a global audience gripped by tension during the minutes of freefall that ultimately proved successful beyond what had been imagined. At a time of very little exciting news or events, this freefall will go down as one of this century’s greatest live moments.

Since the creation of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, 62% of adults worldwide now use social media. With this platform now being ever-present in the news, reality shows and even personal conversation, the medium has rose to become a pivotal part in both teenagers and adult’s every-day lives. As the public have embraced this quick-update format with such a huge response to the rise of this medium, both the benefits and drawbacks of this new internet revolution have become increasingly apparent.

As the Paralympics wound down, Britain began to reminisce on what has been a spectacular year. This summer, the London Olympics have encompassed all that is great about our country and its amazing population. During the biggest sporting event in the world, our country showcased talents that can be envied globally, with athletes such as Chris Hoy and Jessica Ennis bringing home gold to become both national and international icons. Despite all of this success, the question remains; can Britain retain this pride and become a better society for it?

Leeds Festival has earned its rightful reputation of being one of the biggest and most successful festivals of previous years; the likes of Muse, Radiohead and Guns ‘N’ Roses gracing the stage as headliners. The festival has been a vital and much anticipated event in the part of both mine and many other teenagers’ lives, with signature performances becoming memories that will be cherished for a lifetime. In contrast to current teenage stereotypes, the crowds of youths have shown they can celebrate a positive message of music rather than the otherwise negative media portrayal that is often retained within the news.

And now a great sigh of relief echoes across Britain after the Paralympic Closing Ceremony succeeded in all aspects of tear-jerking stories, extraordinary talented people swinging about on wires, uplifting…